Gold prices steadied on Monday after hitting their highest in five weeks as the market weighed an easing of global trade tensions against support from tempered expectations of U.S. interest rate increases.
Spot gold was mostly flat at $1,346,20 per ounce by 1030 GMT, after hitting its loftiest since Feb. 19 at $1,350.76.
U.S. gold futures for April delivery shed 0.3 percent to $1,346.30 per ounce.
The United States and South Korea agreed to revise a trade pact criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump, Seoul said, with U.S. automakers winning improved market access and Korean steelmakers hit with quotas but avoiding hefty tariffs.
related news Commodity Corner: What is ailing jewellery sector? Oil prices rise on Middle East tension, global market recovery Here’s a wrap on commodities market
The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, reported that the United States and China had started negotiating to improve U.S. access to Chinese markets.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: ConocoPhillips(COP)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Paul Ausick]
Before markets open Friday, the two energy producers among the 30 Dow Jones industrial stocks will be reporting first-quarter results. Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE: COP) are both expected to show higher revenues and profits, largely as a result of higher commodity prices. But there are other issues at play as well.
- [By Chris Dier-Scalise]
Among the brands being sold were Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA) and Ford Motor Company(NYSE: F), which both paid out dividends in December. The financial and oil sectors also experienced a sell-off to finish 2016. Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE: WFC) and Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) were net sold as each reached new year-to-date highs and investors unloaded ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) as their prices normalized with the rise in the price of oil.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Things have improved handily from a year ago in the energy sector. Still, even with a pro-energy White House, things are far from perfect in the oil and gas sector. Now ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is delivering great news to its shareholders.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Marathon Oil Corporation(MRO)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Shanthi Rexaline]
The bulking up strategy did not work well for the company over the years, as it saw its market share dwindle and profitability erode. In 1982, in a diversification bid, the company picked up Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) and renamed itself as USX.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Cramer said he tried to buck this trend by investing in EOG Resources (EOG) and Marathon Oil (MRO) but was wrong on both counts. In the case of EOG, even having the best properties wasn’t enough to ward off the collapse in oil prices. Meanwhile, Marathon’s decision to spin off its refining business left it with no cushion to stem its losses.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) shares were up a whopping 209.9% at $18.08 on Wednesday, and the 70.5 million shares at the close was almost 5 times normal trading volume. Marathon Oil has a consensus analyst price target of $18.12 and a 52-week trading range of $6.52 to $18.55. The company has a total market cap of $15 billion.
- [By Craig Jones]
Pete Najarian spoke about options trading volume in Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO). Over 10,000 contracts of the April 18 calls were bought on Wednesday and traders paid around $0.30 for them. The trade breaks even at $18.30 or 11.25 percent higher. Pete Najarian has a long position in Marathon Oil and he is planning to hold it for a couple of weeks.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Marathon Oil Corp. (NYSE: MRO) dropped about 1.7% Tuesday to post a new 52-week low of $11.33 after closing Monday at $11.53. The 52-week high is $19.28. Volume was nearly 50% higher than the daily average of about 13.7 million shares. The company had no specific news.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Marathon Oil (MRO) tumbled to the bottom of the S&P 500 today after oil tumbled after data pointed to higher inventories of crude.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Marathon Oildropped 8.7% to $14.87, while the S&P 500 fell 0.2% to 2,362.98, as Front Month Nymex Crude futures for April delivery slid 5.4% to $50.28., leading some to wonder if the price oil could drop below $50 a barrel.
It wasn’t just Marathon that got clipped as the eight worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 came from the energy sector, including Murphy Oil (MUR), which fell 6.7% to $25.87, Devon Energy (DVN), which slid 6.5% to $40.72, and Chesapeake Energy (CHK), which stumbled 6.1% to $4.94. No surprise, then, that the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) slumped 2.6% to $69.65.
The oil rout began after the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. oil inventories rose by 8.2 million barrels to reach $518.4 million, a record level.
Marathon Oil’s market capitalization fell to $12.6 billion today from $13.8 billion yesterday. It reported a net loss of $2.1 billion on sales of $4.1 billion in 2016.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Range Resources Corporation(RRC)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Paul Ausick]
Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC) dropped about 12.8% Wednesday to register a new 52-week low of $17.71 after closing at $20.30 on Tuesday. The 52-week high is $43.60. Volume was nearly 20 million, nearly 4 times the daily average. The natural gas producer missed estimates this morning and revised its growth projections downward. It was one of several energy companies that took some price target cuts from analysts.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC) dropped about 0.3% Friday to post a new 52-week low of $15.91 after closing at $15.95 on Thursday. The stock’s 52-week high is $39.64. Volume of around 5 million was about a third below the daily average. The forecast for natural gas demand is low and the front month contract is at its lowest point of the year. Shares have reversed their direction and are on track to post a daily gain of about 0.8%.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC) dropped about 4.1% Friday to post a new 52-week low of $15.33 after closing at $15.99 on Thursday. The stock’s 52-week high is $36.40. Volume of about 8.5 million was about 15% above the daily average. The increase in natural gas drilling rigs this week is not good for companies like Range Resources that are gas-weighted producers.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC) fell about 4.4% Tuesday to post a new 52-week low of $14.43 after closing at $15.09 on Monday. The 52-week high is $34.93. Volume of about 15 million was nearly double the daily average of around 7.7 million shares traded. The company had no specific news.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Talk about a Barron’s bounce!Range Resources (RRC) has soared to the top of the S&P 500 today after Barron’s touted it in the pages of the magazine this weekend.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Range Resources gained 4.1% to $28.47, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% to2,375.31.
Barron’s Andrew Bary called Range Resources “an unappreciated energy play.” He explains why:
With major market indexes at record highs, natural-gas stocks are among the few depressed industry groups. Blame a warm winter and weakening gas prices.
Range Resources (ticker: RRC), a leading U.S. gas producer, looks undervalued. Its shares, at $27, are down 20% this year and are much below their 52-week high of $47, set last June. Range drilled the first well in the now-prolific Marcellus region of Pennsylvania more than a decade ago and amassed one of its largest land positions there610,000 acres. Its $4.2 billion purchase of Memorial Resource Development last September gave it access to what the company views as a prolific and underappreciated gas region: northern Louisiana
Range Resources’ market capitalization rose to $7 billion today from $6.8 billion on Friday. It reported net income of $521 million on sales of $1.4 billion in 2016.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Range Resources (RRC) was upgraded to outperform at BMO. $44 price target The valuation is more attractive, as business fundamentals are improving, BMO said.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Williams Partners L.P.(WPZ)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
In a release after the close on Monday, Williams and Williams Partners (WPZ) made several announcements, including: 1) outlining managements plan to financially reposition and simplify the franchises GP/LP structure in an ~$11.4 billion transaction (not subject to any additional approvals), 2) adjustments to Williams and Williams Partners’ dividend and distribution payouts, 3) initiating a ~$2+ billion William equity raise to fund a further Williams investment in Williams Partners, 4) noted other potential upcoming changes, including the sale of ~$2 billion in non-core assets in 2017, and 5) provided several forms of updated 2017 guidance…
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Magellan Midstream Partners L.P.(MMP)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Cramer and the AAP team view the strength of corporations as most important in proving that stocks can handle current valuations. Find out what they’re telling their investment club members about Arconic (ARNC) , Apple (AAPL) and Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP) . Get a free trial subscription to Action Alerts PLUS.
- [By Lisa Levin] Gainers
McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) rose 19 percent to $7.20 in pre-market trading. Subsea 7 S.A. confirmed a $7.00 per share proposal to acquire McDermott.
Clarus Corporation (NASDAQ: CLAR) rose 18.5 percent to $8.00 in pre-market trading.
Enbridge Inc. (NYSE: ENB) rose 9.3 percent to $34.09 in pre-market trading after falling 2.41 percent on Friday.
Lannett Company, Inc. (NYSE: LCI) rose 8.4 percent to $18 in pre-market trading. Lannett named Maureen M. Cavanaugh as senior vice president and chief commercial operations officer.
Navios Maritime Midstream Partners L.P. (NYSE: NAP) rose 7.1 percent to $4.55 in pre-market trading after gaining 11.26 percent on Friday.
Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CORT) rose 6.9 percent to $18.80 in pre-market trading after falling 3.19 percent on Friday.
Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc. (NASDAQ: HMNY) rose 5.7 percent to $2.40 in pre-market trading after falling 10.98 percent on Friday.
Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) shares rose 5.6 percent to $69.20 in pre-market trading. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) announced plans to acquire Vectren for $72 per share in cash
Genprex, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNPX) shares rose 5.2 percent to $4.50 in pre-market trading.
Atossa Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS) rose 5.1 percent to $3.70 in pre-market trading after declining 19.35 percent on Friday.
Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGMO) shares rose 5 percent to $20 in pre-market trading.
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) shares rose 5 percent to $68.41 in pre-market trading.
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) shares rose 4.9 percent to $19.78 in the pre-market trading session.
Find out what's going on in today's market and bring any questions you have to Benzinga's PreMarket Prep.
- [By Matthew DiLallo]
For perspective, two of the highest rated MLPs by credit rating agencies are Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE:MMP) and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD). Recently, their leverage ratios were 3.5 times and 4.4 times, respectively. While both Magellan Midstream and Enterprise Products have seen their leverage ratios creep higher in recent quarters due to the oil market downturn and growth spending, neither is a concern.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Whiting Petroleum Corporation(WLL)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
In trading on Wednesday, energy shares fell by 0.76 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE: WLL), down 6 percent, and Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZN) down 7 percent.
- [By Lisa Levin]
In trading on Friday, energy shares fell 1.02 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE: WLL), down 8 percent, and Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P (NASDAQ: CLMT) down 7 percent.
- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Whiting Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: WLL) saw its shares rocket up by 30.2% to $12.21 on 79.5 million shares on Wednesday. That represents almost 4 times normal trading volume. Whiting Petroleum has a total market cap of $3.5 billion. The company has a consensus analyst price target of $11.39 and a 52-week trading range of $3.35 to $16.62.
- [By Matthew DiLallo]
That sell-off in the oil market weighed on financially challenged oil stocks, which will struggle if crude continues dropping. Among the biggest losers were Abraxas Petroleum (NASDAQ:AXAS), Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:WLL), Denbury Resources (NYSE:DNR), California Resources (NYSE:CRC), and Cobalt International Energy (NYSE:CIE).
- [By Paul Ausick]
Whiting Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: WLL) dropped about 6.4% Wednesday to register a new 52-week low of $4.36 after closing at $4.66 on Tuesday. The 52-week high is $13.39. Volume was around 19 million, about 15% below the daily average. The company had no specific news.
- [By Chris Dier-Scalise]
According to Yahoo Finance, this holds for Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRZO), which is showing 22.63 percent against the float, Whiting Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: WLL), currently at 22.55 percent, as well as several others held by the ETF. If your own short-term thesis is in line with this trend, the bear ETF might be the optimal way of approaching that industry.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Apache Corporation(APA)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Cramer and the AAP team say Apache’s (APA) mixed results are a buying opportunity. Find out what they’re telling their investment club members with a free trial subscription to Action Alerts PLUS.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Cramer and the Action Alerts PLUS team say they still believe in their embattled Permian names, Cimarex (XEC) and Apache (APA) , both of which have benefited from a slow rotation in recent weeks. These names can produce and profit here. Schlumberger (SLB) remains best in class and Magellan Midstream Partners just might be the best way to play oil given that the pipelines will be needed to transport the new wave of oil able to be drawn out of the ground from increasingly efficient American producers. Get in on the discussion by getting a free trial subscription to Action Alerts PLUS.
- [By Lee Jackson]
These companies also reported insider buying last week: Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA), Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), Revlon Inc. (NYSE: REV), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE: VRX) and U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE: X).
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Cramer and the AAP team are detailing their outlook for portfolio energy names Apache (APA) and Cimarex (XEC) . Find out what they’re telling their investment club members with a free trial subscription to Action Alerts PLUS.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) dropped about 7.3% Thursday to post a new 52-week low of $34.50. Shares closed at $37.20 on Wednesday and the stock’s 52-week high is $55.23. Volume was over 11 million, about three times the daily average of around 3.9 million. The company reported quarterly results this morning, but investors were not impressed.
- [By Chris Lange]
The S&P 500 stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Tuesday was Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) which traded down over 7% at $42.51. The stocks 52-week range is $38.14 to $69.00. Volume was over 14 million versus the daily average of 3.4 million shares.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Crescent Point Energy Corp (16)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Kana Nishizawa]
China Coal Energy Co., the countrys second-largest producer of the fuel, sank 3.1 percent after the government said it will cut coal consumption. Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (16), the worlds second-biggest developer, fell 1.4 percent after trimming its sales target. Gold producers led materials companies lower as the precious metal headed for its steepest weekly loss since June amid expectations the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee will next week decide to reduce stimulus.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Encana Corporation(ECA)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Paul Ausick]
Encana Corp. (NYSE: ECA) is rated Buy with an unchanged price target of $16. The EPS estimate for 2017 was lowered from $0.42 to $0.34, and the 2018 estimate was also lowered, from $1.47 to $1.28. The shares ended the weekat $11.44, in a 52-week range of $4.90 to $13.85. The consensus 12-month price target is $14.95.
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
In the Lightning Round, Cramer was bullish on Vodafone Group (VOD) , Schlumberger (SLB) , Encana (ECA) , Arconic (ARNC) and AdvanSix (ASIX) .
Cramer was bearish on U.S. Silica Holdings (SLCA) .
- [By Money Morning News Team]
Canada-based Encana Corp. (NYSE: ECA) was the eighth top oil company stock in 2016, with a 131% gain over the year. ECA and its subsidiaries focus on developing, exploring, producing, and marketing natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and oil in North America.
Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2019: Halliburton Company(HAL)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.KIPLINGER.COM]
But what really differentiates SLB from rivals such as Halliburton Company (HAL) is its client list.
Instead of focusing on North America, Schlumberger has a global portfolio, and thus its revenues are well, worldlier. Thats important, because state-owned energy firms can have a different mandate than publicly traded energy stocks. They often drill despite losses. Plus, the multitude of operating regions means some could be profitable, covering for when others are not.
- [By ]
Markets have been mixed on Monday as the 10-year Treasury yield closes in on 3%. Earnings reports today included from Halliburton (HAL) , Hasbro (HAS) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) . Action Alerts PLUS holding Alphabet (GOOGL) is among the companies reporting after the close.
- [By ]
That investment would likely benefit both Schlumberger and Baker Hughes, but more so their competitor Halliburton Co. (HAL) , which is the most levered to the North American market among the big three oil services providers.
- [By Jayson Derrick]
Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) is a top energy pick for four reasons: 1) the company’s significant leverage to the U.S. onshore market, 2) potential for incremental margin growth, 3) expectations for positive earnings revision and 4) strong balance sheet and a “well respected” management team.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
When Weatherford International (WFT) announced that it had named Halliburton (HAL) CFO Mark McCollumits new CEO, its shares jumped as some observers contended itincreased the odds of an acquisition by the oil-services giant. It looks like they picked the wrong oil-services giant, however, as Weatherford and Schlumberger (SLB) announced a joint venture late Friday, one that has sent Weatherford’s shares soaring and earned it an upgrade from Wells Fargo analystsJudson Bailey andColeman Sullivan. They explain why:
